The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-06-02
THE OPIUM HABIT.
A Few Instances of the Fatal Power 81
Morphia and Choral.


But few outside of the medical pro-
fession have any conception of the vast
amount of morphia and ohloral con-
sumed by persons who have become adj
dicted to their use.
The universal testimony of these un.
fortunate men and women is, that the
habit, once formed, it is next to impos-
sible to escape from its thralldOm. The
effect of these drugs is so exhilarating
that the tired, overworked mother. in
the new life coursing through her veins,
imagines herself ready for any conflict:
while the poor besotted youth, who ha:
lost all traces of the noble manhood
upon which he was just entering, is in.
toxicated with the splendors of the
kingdom, which his intoxicated brain
asserts to be his own.
One of the saddest cases of opium
eating that has ever come under my
| observation, was that of young
gentleman, Lee Adams by name. a
descendant of the renowned family,
which twice occupied the highest seat
in the gift of the American people. he
brought with him. to our college town,
rare qualities, both as an orator and
author. can give you no impression
of the eloquent addresses to which we
were treated. Suffice it to say that
his audiences went away charmed with
his grandeur. No terms were too ex-
travagant to express the admiration OF
his hearers. The college faculty en-
gagged him for a series of lectures, and
while in the very zenith of his popular
ity. clap, as from a clear sky. caused
the people to pause suddenly and shed
tears over their shattered idol.
1t was on a beautiful. still Sabbath
morning, while the villagers were as
sembling for morning worship, that
officers of justice from the city arrived,
with papers for the arrest of one Lee
Adams, on the very grave charge OF
robbery; and, much to the amazement
of the populace, the missing diamonds
were discovered in his trunk. 1t all
came out then-the fact that he was an
inveterate morphia eater, and the peo-
pie held the secret of his moodiness.
which the physicians had kept quiet up
to this hour. He acknowledged his
guilt, declaring that the theft was COM
mitted while under the influence of the
powerful narcotic. He delivered the
Jewels to the officer, but asked that he
might be permitted to enter the inc
briate asylum, instead of being carried
to prison. Through the influence of
prominent men, his requested was
granted, and though several years have
passed away since that morning, we
have never heard any thing concerning
him. He said he could take seventeen
grains of morphia at single dose, and |
this, considering that a quarter of a
grain is the amount usually prescribed,
was sixty-eight times as much as a
person not addicted to its use could |
bear.
have in mind young physician.
who, during his last year at the medical
college, contracted the habit of using
chloral. He was highly gifted. and to
his natural fine abilities were added all
the graces of an accomplished education.
During the three years that he remained
in his chosen profession, through his
kindness of heart and acknowledged
skill, he won hosts of friends. Still the
fatal thirst was consuming him by
inches, and time after time his brother
physicians labored for hours to snatch
him from the very jaws of death. But
there came a time when even their
power was useless, and before he had
reached the close of his twenty-fourth
year. the clods of the valley had covered
the form we had all learned to love,
forever from our view.
might add many other instances of
the fatal power of these drugs, but my
note of warning has been sounded. and
hat is all for which lifted nv pen
a Doctors Wife. in Wonsan's Magazine.
-Strips uf oil cloth about six inches
vide sewe3 firmly with linen thread
across sise ends of a tapestry rug will